Fattening and slaughter traits of four rabbit genotypes

Abstract

Growth rate of 4 genotypes, two lines of Slovene SIKA meat rabbit (maternal line A and sire line C, both 50 rabbits), hybrid AxC (50 rabbits) and crossbred AxCal (A and Californian, 38 rabbits) was recorded from weaning (35 days of age) to slaughter (93 days). Growth performance and slaughter traits of AxC were different from line A (live weight at 91st day: A 2720, C 3158, AxC 3043 g (P£0.05), heterosis effect (H) +3.38%; carcass weight: A 1490, C 1787, AxC 1716 g (P£0.05), H +5.65%; dressing percentage: A 54.1, C 55.6, AxC 55.5% (P£0.05); H +1.26%. Weaning weight of AxCal was significantly lower than of AxC (AxCal 843, AxC 1050 g, P£0.05), but at the end of the experiment the weight of AxCal rabbits was very close to AxC (AxCal 2958, AxC 3043 g, P>0.05). Other growth and slaughter traits did not differ between AxC and AxCal group

Effect of genotype, housing system and hay supplementation on performance and ear lesions of growing rabbits

“…Breeders with small herds do not usually select the Hungarian Giant breed, however they sometimes cross with intensive breeds to improve performance. Comparing the productive performance of different giant breeds and terminal lines, higher growth rates were published for the terminal lines than for other giant breeds (Feki et al, 1996;Bolet, 2002;López and Sierra, 2002;Piles and Blasco, 2003;Piles et al, 2004;Kermauner and Zgur, 2005;Tůmová et al, 2013). It should be pointed out that the experiment was performed with crossbred rabbits, so the difference between the two purebreeds could be twofold.…”